Burnet Woods Connectivity

Nicole Dibble

Stephanie Godsey Bernadette Riddle

Kelly Seibert

Victoria Werth

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Abstract

Burnet Woods is a forested park located in Clifton and surrounded on all sides by the University of Cincinnati, Good Samaritan Hospital, the historical Gas Light District, as well as other businesses, restaurants and attractions. The park is extremely underutilized. Over the years it has acquired a negative reputation for being unsafe, unkempt and unorganized. Interest in renovating the park has sparked in the nearby community and local businesses. Unfortunately the different parties cannot come to an agreement on exactly how the park should be renovated. There are some groups in the community that are against the renovation completely. In this paper we will discuss the transit issues inside, outside and in the area around the park. We will determine a compromise in the hopes of satisfying the majority of the wants and needs of all involved parties. In favor of many of the residents, we will preserve the current park atmosphere of a quiet, forested green space while also making improvements to make the park more accessible and visitor friendly.

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Table of Content

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 Background………….…………………………………………….…………………………..……….…………..7 Existing……………………...……………………………………….……………………….……….……………..9 Proposal…………………….………………………………………………………………………………….…..14 Case Studies………………………………………………………………………………………………………18 Deliverables………………………………………………………………………………………………………21 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………..22 References………………………………………………………………………………………………………..23

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Introduction Since 1872 Burnet Woods has served the surrounding neighborhoods as a recreational green space. Within a 90-acre area, the park of Burnet Woods offers a range of outdoor activities to the local communities of:

• Clifton Heights, University Heights, and Fairview (CUF) • Clifton • Corryville

Burnet Woods is bounded on each of its sides by primary roadways:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (MLK) borders the park to the south • Bishop Street on the east • Clifton Avenue lines the west • Jefferson Avenue with Ludlow Avenue bound the north side.

MLK is a busy road consisting of three lanes traveling in each direction, plus turning lanes. This street is currently included in the renovation of I-75. Upon completion of the project, traffic will be directed from the interstate directly up MLK, passing Burnet Woods along the route. This will increase the already heavy traffic flow running along the southern border of the park. Ludlow Avenue, Clifton Avenue and Jefferson Avenue are all moderately traveled roads that reach capacity during peak traffic hours. Bishop Street is the only major residential road.

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In addition to the roads bordering the parks, two other roads, Brookline Avenue and Burnet Woods Drive, allow drivers access into the park. These roads provide access to many of the park amenities, which includes a variety of hiking trails, a fishing lake, a historical bandstand, playgrounds, shelters, picnic areas, a disc golf course and the nature center. On top of all of the existing amenities it has to offer, Burnet Woods is located in the heart of the gaslight district, surrounded by:

• The University of Cincinnati campus • Good Samaritan Hospital • The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives • Other restaurants, shops and attractions.

Figure 1: Burnet Woods' bounding streets – courtesy of Google maps

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The close proximity of these facilities means that there is a large population to be drawn into the park. With some attention and improvements, this park has the potential to become the most popular green space in the Cincinnati area. On paper, Burnet Woods sounds like the perfect place to visit on a Saturday afternoon. However, over the years the park has developed a stereotype of being unsafe, as well as unkempt and inconvenient, thus causing the number of visitors to decline. The overall goal of this renovation is to stomp out that stereotype by creating an accessible park with an inviting atmosphere.

Figure 2: Current map of Burnet Woods - courtesy of Cincinnati Parks

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There are two major parties with opposing views about how the park should be renovated. Fortunately, both parties agree that the safety and maintenance needs improvement. The problem arises when deciding:

• Who should renovate the park? • What changes should be made?

The local community holds the conservative opinion: They do not want to see the park change dramatically. While the safety of the park is a major concern of theirs, keeping the same natural atmosphere of the park is important too. According to The News Record, they want to preserve the trees to ensure there is no disruption to the migrating birds. The second party, the Uptown Consortium, has a more innovative approach for the renovation of Burnet Woods. The Uptown Consortium is a non-profit development corporation made up of The University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, TriHealth Incorporated, and UC Health. The Consortium collaborates with private developers and entrepreneurs who are interested in investing in opportunities that will improve specific neighborhoods in the Cincinnati area. Concerning Burnet Woods, these neighborhoods include:

• Avondale • Clifton • Corryville • CUF • Mt. Auburn

The panel of investors see Burnet Woods as an economical opportunity to improve the area.

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One of the key problems the Uptown Consortium group wants to focus on is the drainage. After heavy rainfall events, Burnet Woods unfortunately becomes a retention basin for storm water and raw sewage runoff. The most logical solution would be to separate sewage lines from storm water lines. Excavation and tree removal are necessary in order to implement this solution, however the plan does demonstrate tree preservation as a top priority. Being an advocate of the renovation, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley spoke on behalf of the Uptown Consortium during the third annual Uptown Business Celebration held on June 5, 2014. He mentioned that they envision Burnet Woods potentially becoming the next Washington Park. This outcome is the exact opposite of the desires of the local community. They do not want the additional traffic and outside visitors congesting their park.

Figure 3: Picture of Washington Park – courtesy of Google images

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There are some important factors that must be considered before turning Burnett Woods into the “next Washington Park.” Compared to Burnett Woods, Washington Park is a sparsely forested area that allows plenty of space to host events. The park also has an underground garage primarily for event parking, which consequently increases its pollution emissions relative to other parks in the area. This results in a high demand for maintenance and upkeep. The cost of the 2012 renovation of the 8-acre area in Washington Park was approximately 46 million dollars. A similar renovation of Burnet Woods’ 90 acres would mean a budget of around 520 million dollars. Although expensive, implementing the Uptown Consortium’s plan would no doubt create another source of revenue for the city. Conversely, a less invasive renovation will please a large number of residents who do not wish to commercialize the park, while successfully increasing the utility of the park. Any renovation to Burnet Woods will improve the neighborhood as well as the existing green space, but the decision of how to renovate will have an extreme effect on the project cost.

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Background When the Board of Park Commissioner was founded in 1906, plans to lay out the foundation for standards of Cincinnati’s parks were set in motion. The board suggested and evaluated plans for improving the way the Queen City would utilize its green space. These plans went on to help shape the Kessler Plan. The Kessler Plan was created in 1907 by a city planner named George E. Kessler. Over the course of his career he completed more than two-hundred projects across twenty-three states in several countries. His plan was the first of its kind in that it set a strategy for the City of Cincinnati to preserve and optimize its recreational green space. The plan proposed to connect all of the parks, existing and potential, into one system. His suggestion to Cincinnati was to alleviate traffic congestion and crowded conditions around the city. He also stressed the importance of securing park locations before the land was developed. The city took his suggestion and ran with it. By the 1920’s the board of trustees had acquired multiple properties to establish the park system. Some of those parks included:

• Mount Airy Forest • Ault Park • Mount Storm Park.

In the years following, all of the parks were established to reach today’s total of over 5,000 acres of parkland. Figure 4 below is a map of the 1907 Kessler Plan showing multiple pathways to connect the park system. And plans to create additional green space ideas continued.

Image: 1907 Kessler Plan—Courtesy of the Parks Board

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Exactly one century after the Kessler Plan was developed, the Cincinnati City Council presented the “Cincinnati Parks 2007 Centennial Master Plan.” This plan is still the current blueprint for park systems. It outlines the goals for city parks and describes possible funding strategies to meet those goals. Some of the developments include:

• Park extensions • Park improvements • Greenway corridors • Bike trails

The 2007 park system plan is very similar to the 1907 Kessler Plan, with just a few changes done to match the existing roadways and park locations. The overall goal of both plans is to create a network of parks by connecting all of the parks in the Cincinnati area. This would effectively improve the connection and transit throughout the city. Below is a map of the 2007 Centennial Master Plan.

Figure 4: 2007 Centennial Master Plan

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Existing Currently, Burnet Woods provides a quiet, forested green space for residents of the surrounding community. Although the park is underutilized, it offers multiple commodities and amenities. Picnic areas are scattered throughout the park. These areas provide visitors with a total of about eighty picnic tables and fifteen grills. The tables can be found at three locations throughout the park:

• North of the Nature Center • Adjacent to the stone pavilion • Between Brookline Drive and St. Clair Avenue

There are a few problems associated with the designated picnic areas. For example, the issue with hosting a picnic at the Nature Center location is visibility, or lack thereof. The area is hidden in a lowland where the forest limits visibility from the street. Not only does this make the location hard to find, but visitors to this spot might feel unsafe or uneasy if not accompanied by a larger group of people. Additionally, road access is inconvenient and nearby parking is nonexistent. Getting down to the site requires taking the stairs, which is not feasible for people with mobility concerns. Access via one of the uneven dirt and gravel trails is the only alternative.

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The hiking trails winding throughout the park pose some issues of their own. They have potential but they are in great need of improvement. Some of the major issues of the current trails are:

• Confusing pathways • Inadequate signage and direction • Overgrowth of plant-life • Cluttered with fallen trees • Graffiti • Litter

The existing trails in Burnet Woods are difficult to navigate due to lack of guidance and direction. They are unkempt and cluttered with fallen trees and overgrown plants. Not only does this take away from the appeal of exploring Burnet Woods’ trails, but the clutter can also create safety hazards. The presence of graffiti and litter along the trails hints at how the site is being used. Evidence of delinquent activities make the park look less attractive and also less safe, which can deter visitors from utilizing this park feature. Evidence of these issues are shown in the images below.

Figure 5: Unclear hiking trials

Figure 6: Graffiti on signs

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Along with the lack of signage on the hiking trails, there is a lack of proper signage throughout the entire park.

• Inadequate entrance signs • No maps for park amenities • No directions for navigating in-park roads

There are no maps directing visitors to the park amenities, only a few small stone signs introducing the park, and no traffic signs to aid drivers in navigating roads that wind through and dead-end within the park. Additionally, the dim lighting makes it difficult and unsafe to travel after dusk. To add to the issue of uneasy navigation, the topography through the forest changes dramatically in some areas, resulting in rolling slopes and steep hills. The changes in elevation aren’t a huge issue, but can leave visitors short of breath after hiking uphill on one of the trails. While pausing to take a breath leaves opportunity to enjoy some breath-taking views, the improper signage, low lighting and inconsistent elevations can lead to a frustrating navigation experience.

Figure 7: Burnet Woods Topography

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The navigation issues begin before entering the park. Since the park lies between heavily traveled roadways, entry into Burnet Woods can be a challenge. The entrance on the south side of the park is approximately 300 feet east of the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Clifton Avenue. During peak traffic hours it is difficult to exit and enter the park from this side due to the close proximity of the busy intersection. The entrance on the west side of Burnet Woods is offset with the intersection of Clifton Avenue and Dixmyth Avenue by about 100 feet. This challenge of safely and easily getting out of the park combined with the limited visibility and the lack of a left-hand turn lane into the park can cause safety hazards. This entrance is inconvenient and dangerous.

Figure 8: Top circle: West entrance near Dixmyth Ave Bottom Circle: South entrance near MLK

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There are several pedestrian entrances around the perimeter of the park. The northwest entrance at the corner of Ludlow Avenue and Clifton Avenue is has a beautiful water fountain and well-kept landscaping. This entrance sounds inviting, but the pathway leading into the park draws away from this feature. The entrance leads visitors downhill into a dense forested area with insufficient lighting. It is intimidating to enter the park at this entrance, especially before sunrise and after sunset. Along the other sides of the park there are entrances that do not have any signs indicating entrance into Burnet Woods. In fact, Burnet Woods does not have proper signage at any of its entrances, vehicular or pedestrian. Not having signs to welcome visitors into a park is a draw back for several reasons. One reason is that the local community would be more influenced to enter the park if there was a sign asking them to visit. Also if someone is new to the area, they would not be aware of the park because there are no signs informing them that there is a magnificent park within the forested area. Simply providing proper signage could change the number of the people entering and enjoying the park.

Figure 10: Ludlow Entrance showing existing fountain

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Proposal Over the years, problems have evolved causing Burnet Woods to become a less populated park. This includes:

• Negative safety perceptions • Dim lighting • Unclear hiking trails • Improper signage • Lack of maintenance

We have explored many developed plans and also brainstormed original solutions to address these issues. Taking both the parties of the local residents and the Uptown Consortium’s opinions into consideration, we have developed a new plan for Burnet Woods in hopes to accommodate everyone and draw positive attention to the park. Transportation in and around Burnet Woods should have a significant effect on drawing people into the park. Evaluation of current traffic from vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation should all be considered with respect to the park. A look into current public transportation patterns shows several bus routes that travel along the roads that serve as the boundaries of Burnet Woods, many of which have stops at or near current or potential park entrances. Hence public transit is not an issue. As previously seen in the Kessler Plan and the 2007 Centennial Master Plan, there is high demand in connecting this park to other parks in the Cincinnati area via various transit systems. Taking previous efforts into consideration, our plan consists of a route that will connect multiple parks, beginning in the center of Burnet Woods. At the starting location there will be a bike share available for individuals who wish to enjoy a ride through the city, hitting major park destinations along the way. A multitude of maps and pamphlets will be provided at the starting point to ensure a clear route of all possible destinations. A bike share will be provided at the destination parks as well.

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This central starting location will create a “Four Corners” with four pathway directions to choose from. Not only is the Four Corners a convenient location to install a Bike Share bike rack, it also serves as a logical location to provide a rest area which will include restrooms, benches and a water fountain. The four direction to choose from are as follows:

• South • Southeast • East • West

The pathways chosen were consistent with the pathways decided in the 2007 Centennial Master Plan. Heading west from the Four Corners. The trail will follow Ludlow Avenue to State Route 27 which adds up to about four miles. Along this route there will be a stopping point at Mount Storm Park and a final destination of Mount Airy Forest. Starting back at the Four Corners and heading south the pathway will follow Vine Street to E. Liberty Street to Elm Street. Through this route there are stopping points to visit, such as Inwood Park and Jackson Hill. The final location will be Washington Park. There are bicycle lanes already in place along this route, but they will be improved in order to enhance the safety. This route will be approximately three miles long. From the Four Corners heading southwest there will be a pathway reaching out toward Eden Park. The route will veer from Vine Street at Auburn Avenue and then follow Dorchester Avenue out to Eden Park, spanning approximately three miles. Eden Park was chosen as a destination point because of its popularity in Cincinnati. It has an iconic view overlooking the city, and is home to the Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and the Krohn Conservatory. There are several landmarks in the park as well. With so much to offer at Eden Park, this particular pathway is predicted to be a popular route.

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The last direction to choose from is eastbound from Burnet Woods. This route will be slightly different from the others. It will follow Vine Street north, turn on East Mitchel Street and meet Dana Avenue. Here the pathway will meet the proposed Wasson Way. Wasson Way leads to Ault Park as its final destination. Via this pathway people will be able to stop at O’Brian Terrace and Woodward Park. The distance to reach Wasson Way is about four miles. Below is a map of the proposed routes.

The purpose of using these routes is to create a safe pathway for pedestrians and cyclists to travel to the different areas of Cincinnati. Wherever possible, the sidewalk should be widened to ten feet to allow a cyclist to pass a walker. Where this concept is not feasible, separate lanes will be established in the roadways. Appropriate barriers will be used to isolate the cyclist lane from the vehicle lanes to ensure the safety of bikers. This plan will work to encourage people to ride a bike rather than drive a car, which can have a two-fold effect on the health of citizens by increasing daily exercise as well as decreasing the health issues associated with air pollution.

Figure 9: Proposed Pathways

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The other main issue this plan focuses on is the entrances. The goal of improving all entrances is to create gateways into the park that will attract people and draw their attention to Burnet Woods. Previously mentioned, the two vehicular entrances located close to busy intersections to the west and southwest of the park will be adjusted. Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has proposed a plan to rework the MLK and I-71 interchange. Following this plan, the west entrance into Burnet Woods will be shifted to line up with Dixmyth Avenue at its intersection with Clifton Avenue. This should create a more convenient four-way intersection. There are plans to restrict the south entrance as a vehicular entrance to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists only. Below is a map of the proposed plan by the Cincinnati Parks Board.

After adjusting the vehicular entrances, the remaining entrances will be upgraded. These will be transformed into “grand entrances” that will display the name of Burnet Woods. With sufficient signage and lighting the park with be not only visible to park visitors, but friendly as well. One of the ways we propose to do this is to clear out or thin out the vegetation within 10 ft. on all edges of the park so that pedestrians can enter from the sidewalk. Detailed maps of Burnet Woods will be provided, as well as additional maps with information about transit routes and distances to the surrounding parks.

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Case Studies Since the design of the pathways would be somewhat similar, some of the case studies considered for the design of the trails include:

• Little Miami Scenic Trail • Scioto Greenway Trail • Ohio River Trail

The Little Miami Scenic River Trail is a 70-mile bike path through southwestern Ohio. This is really beneficial because it spans through multiple areas and use multiple paths. Sections of the trail were a railroad that have been reused. Other sections run along residential roads with barriers alongside. This trail is now very popular for bikers, runners, and horseback riders. It consists of a two-lane trail, for directional traffic or passing. This trail crosses over roads, goes through neighborhoods and even runs along the river. See the following page for an image of the Little Miami Scenic trail. The Scioto Greenway Trail is a greenway trail in Columbus, Ohio. That most closely matches to what we propose to do. It travels along the downtown riverfront, with a similar urban atmosphere as the proposed project. This trail connects multiple parks including Dodge Park, Bicentennial Park, and North Bank Park. It also connects to an existing bike trail called the Scioto Mile. Which is also similar to how we want to connect to Wasson Way. Parts of this trail run next to urban roads, with plenty of signage and space to be safe. This will be useful with respect to the design standards that will be used. The Ohio River Trail is another trail local to Cincinnati. Eventually the Ohio River Trail will run from start to end of the Ohio River, connecting several states like Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and others. Currently only small sections of this trail are completed. One section is located on the river in the Theodore M Berry International Friendship Park.

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Wasson Way is another one of our case studies, however since it is a rails to trails case the design standards will be different. But since it is located in Cincinnati and more recent than the others we can use the information gathered about the social impact. The Little Miami Scenic Trail has sections that used to be a rails to trail. But since the trail is over 70 miles long there will be sections that are applicable. The differences in the trails can be seen in Figures 11 and 12.

Figure 11: Current Wasson Way Trail

Figure 12: Current Little Miami Scenic Trail

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When deciding what the upgraded entrances should look like, we liked how inviting the arched entrance of the Schuylkill River Park looked. It might give visitors the feeling of walking through a portal and escaping into something of an oasis. This get-away is a primary reason cites have parks. Burnet Woods is also in need of a new, welcoming sign. It should be large and eye catching in order to attract attention and draw visitors into the park. At the same time, it should not be so bold that it can maintain a natural look, similar to the ambiance inside the park. The sign outside Washington Park does a good job of balancing these two features. Below are some examples of other parks to look at when designing the new gateways of Burnet Woods.

Figure 13: Schuylkill River Park case study

Figure 14: Washington Park Entrance Sign

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Deliverables

With all that has been proposed, a detailed plan will be provided next semester. Detailed maps of Burnet Woods will be provided with designs of the entrances, the bike trails, the Four Corners location, and the proposed border around the park. Additional mapping will provide information about transit routes, methods, and distances to the surrounding parks. We will deliver a plan of proposed new locations for additional bike share at each park and what construction would need to be performed during placement.

Some feasibility studies will need to be performed on the shared sidewalk pathways and the bike routes to the other parks. The studies will help to show whether the design will work in urban area like Cincinnati.

A study of the topography of the park and the city will be researched for the plan. From this study a decision will be made about the location of the bike paths and different challenge levels associated with them. Studies on sustainable innovation will also be done. We will be looking into using bio-soils and other sustainable options in the area between the path and the streets along the bike paths. Also, a study of the native vegetation in Cincinnati will be performed so that we can plant native vegetation around the park and along the bike pathways.

For the design of the entrances, we will provide detailed designs of the lighting at the entrances, signs into the park, mapping with regard to the bike share path and of the park, and pathways at each entrance leading into the park toward the Four Corners.

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Conclusion Since Burnet Woods lies on a prime location adjacent to the University of Cincinnati, Good Samaritan Hospital, the historical Gas Light District, amongst other establishments, a renovation would be worthwhile. The upgrade would benefit the park and park users by creating a safer environment, an easier transit and a more visually pleasing landscape. Thus it would finally rid the park of its negative reputation. In the hopes of creating a compromise amongst the disputing parties involved, we have come up with a renovation proposal. It will begin by connecting Burnet Woods to other parks around Cincinnati through pathways that are safe for pedestrians and cyclists. This concept of connecting Cincinnati will bring the community together in a way that it does not today. Biking is a popular method of transportation around the area of Burnet Woods. Constructing pathways would create more opportunities for the cyclists to ride and encourage others to pick up a bike and indulge in the same healthy activity. With the starting point being in the center of Burnet Woods, positive attention will be drawn to the park. The second half of the improvements will focus on adjusting and beautifying the park entrances. Location adjustments will be made to make the park more easily accessible. Visual improvement will be made to the landscape in order to create a welcoming entrance. Signs indicating the entrance of Burnet Woods and proper lighting will be included in the beautification. During design we have kept in mind both parties and their inputs to the renovation. In favor of much of the local community, we have kept the preservation of Burnet Woods as the forested green space that it is today. To satisfy the opposing party, we have made the above improvements. The collaboration of welcoming entrances, accessibility and safe pathways connecting the community will make Burnet Woods an enjoyable place to visit, rather than a place to avoid.

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